Briefs with lumbar protection

ABSTRACT

BRIEFS WITH LUMBAR PROTECTION includes an upper lumbar protector of a seamless continuous circular fabric, made up of an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion, both portions being joined by their upper ends through an intermediate reinforcing portion of a same weave and by their lower ends through a union by transfer. Both portions delimit an intermediate air chamber and they are extended in a tubular portion in the shape of briefs, with two openings through which the wearer&#39;s legs pass. The outer tubular portion, of high bidirectional elasticity, shapes the outer surface of the lumbar protector and the inner tubular portion that shapes the inner surface includes a fibers with silver ions that provide anti-microbial and anti-static properties.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a pair of briefs providing lumbar protection applied to the back and abdomen of the user.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Lumbar protectors are employed for their advantages in back protection, especially the lumbar vertebrae region. These users include from sports to the treatment of lumbar pain, especially lumbago. As do other illnesses in this region, lumbago produces significant pain, which can currently be relieved using systems that provide heat to said region, among which the following can be mentioned: massages, electric currents, laser and infrared etc. In order to generate said heat continuously, there are also certain type of protective corsets that are worn to hug and compress said region so that, on the one hand, a temperature is achieved that reduces the pain and, on the other, support is provided that is beneficial for the patient. These corsets and other clothing items in contact with the user's skin conserve body heat, preventing cooling of the regions due to the environment being at a lower temperature. This effect is known as a “thermal barrier”.

However, these corsets employed for this purpose have significant drawbacks; on the one hand, the possibility of moving from the region being treated and of forming a thick roll that is uncomfortable for the patient and, on the other, that they are made of a mix of natural and synthetic materials that lead to increased sweating where they are applied. On occasions, the garment does not absorb said sweat, causing lack of comfort and possible allergic skin reactions. In the case of natural fibres, this sweating is generally absorbed by the garment fabric and may produce bad odours due to the action of bacteria and microbes in the skin or in the fabric. In this way, correct personal hygiene is made difficult and leads to washing problems. Moreover, when the user is wearing the corset or garment, this must fully cover the skin without leaving any channels or separations through which outside air can enter, thus producing localised cooling that are not desirable.

Utility model U9600307 is also known, in which a lumbar protector is described with underpants incorporated. In said model, a closed band of elastic material is sewn to the upper part of a conventional pair of underpants, which is designed to cover the lumbar region, constituting a single item that is easy to wear and wash. However, both the seams of the upper band of the underpants and the vertical seam that laterally closes the upper band cause discomfort because they stick into the skin because of the effect of the elastic bands, since these seams are made using thread that is not very elastic and leads to thickening where the fabrics overlap, which is necessary when stitching conventional seams.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The briefs with lumbar protection of the present invention present a series of technical particularities that permit more comfortable, natural use of the garment and which provide better hygiene. The briefs can be designed as underpants for a man or panties for a woman or as any other similar garment, with or without trouser legs in order to cover totally or partially the legs of the user.

These briefs with lumbar protection comprise a single textile piece, having a tubular configuration, in which various zones or portions are defined through changing the fabric stitching and the fibre mixture and which allow an adequate effective constitution, without perimeter seams between the consecutive zones or portions of the textile garment or piece. This textile piece includes a lumbar protector which is formed by an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion, joined by their upper ends through a reinforcing portion defined in the same fabric, and by their lower ends, by means of threads transfers. Between the outer tubular portion and the inner tubular portion of the lumbar protector there is an interstitial chamber of air, which acts as a thermal barrier. The lumbar protector's fabric is extended from the inner and outer portions, in the area somehow considered as the coincidental with the user's waist, in a tubular portion in the shape of briefs, with two openings for the wearer's legs. These briefs may extend on trouser legs of variable length, having a junction seam in the crotch.

The outer tubular portion of the upper end or protector is of high bidirectional elasticity and allows a three-dimensional adaptation of the garment to the user's body.

In turn, the inner tubular portion of the garment's lumbar protector conforms the inner surface of the lumbar protector, into contact with the user's body when wearing on the garment. This portion is provided with protection and thermal isolation, favoured by an existing interstitial air chamber between the inner and outer tubular portions of the lumbar protector, which acts as a thermal barrier, increasing the insulating action of the two fabrics or portions. The inner portion of the lumbar protector includes in its composition a fibre with anti-microbial anti-static and anti-odour properties. A fibre with silver ions is used for these purposes.

The removal of all seams, thickness or ledges in the lumbar area and waist of the garment that may cause rubs or skin irritation is a substantial improvement with regard to garments made with several pieces sewed to each other. The use during this garment making of the latest technological techniques of the knitted fabric, best known as “seamless”, has many advantages for the making of garments with therapeutic purposes.

The outer portion of the lumbar protector comprises a fabric, the warp of which presents a Lycra ® or polyamide-covered elastomer thread and a cotton thread, and, transversally arranged and spaced in said warp, some other Lycra ® or supplementary elastomer threads. These elastic threads allow the fabric to have said bidirectional elasticity, both in a transversal and longitudinal way, and allow the lumbar protector to be adapted to the user's body with an adequate and lower pressure than the one provided by corsets. Moreover, the threads layout makes the cotton thread to be in the outer side, opposite to the inner air chamber, and the elastomer threads to be in the inner and intermediate layer, away from the contact with the user's skin, thus avoiding allergy risks.

The way the lumbar protector adapts and compresses the user's body favours the body's heat retention and a greater corporal fastening.

Also, this tubular portion is intimately fitted to the shape of the abdomen and the back, adapting itself to the body contour, thus preventing the formation of channels or spaces through which the outer air can penetrate and reach the skin that is covered by the garment.

The portion or junction area of the inner and outer portions of the lumbar protector, on its upper area, presents a similar constitution to the outer portion of the protector, except for the stitch being thicker, preventing it from rolling up due to the user's movement. This portion or joining area is a continuous extension of the lumbar protector inner and outer portion, with a change in the fabric stitch that prevents the use of joining seams.

The inner tubular section of the lumbar protector comprises a fabric made of a warp with a cotton thread and silver ions and a Lycra ® or polyamide-covered elastomer thread. Some Lycra ® or supplementary elastomer threads for the fabric adjustment to the user's body are transversally arranged in said warp.

The threads layout in this fabric or inner tubular portion makes the cotton thread with ions remains in the opposite side to the inner air chamber, and contacts the user's body, creating the inner surface of the lumbar protector, whilst the elastomer threads remain in the inner and intermediate layers, oriented towards the interstitial chamber that is limited by the inner and outer tubular portions of the lumbar protector and away from the contact with the user's skin, thus avoiding allergy risks.

The effect of silver as a permanent inhibitor of bacterial and other microbial growth is well known, so that its use means that any sweat accumulating in said portion of the lumbar protector in contact with the skin does not become a source of offensive odours or produce possible skin irritation. Moreover, silver has an anti-static effect that improves the user comfort and the convenience when wearing the garment on.

The portion of the lower area of the briefs comprises a fabric, the warp of which has a Lycra ® thread or polyamide-covered elastomer, and another cotton thread or other fibre.

This fabric piece is specially recommended to diabetic and haemophiliac people due to the regularity of the fabric prevents minor skin wounds that may be severe in this kind of diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order to complement this description and to facilitate understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive report is accompanied by a set of drawings in which, the following is represented in an illustrative, non-limiting fashion:

FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of the briefs with lumbar protection.

FIG. 2 shows a partially sectioned elevation view of the briefs, in which the union by transfer and the fourth tubular portion, with anti-microbial properties, can be seen.

FIG. 3 shows a scheme in the layout of the threads by layers in a partial section of the garment.

FIG. 4 shows details of the fabric of the briefs area or first portion.

FIG. 5 shows details of the fabric of the outer compression zone or second portion.

FIG. 6 shows details of the fabric of the belt zone or third portion, with its increased density to prevent its rolling up.

FIG. 7 shows details of the fabric of the inner zone or fourth portion of the garment.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in the referenced figures, the briefs comprise a single textile piece with a tubular configuration, made in the embodied example in a circular fabric machine of the kind known as seamless.

This textile piece presents a lumbar protector made up of an outer tubular portion (13) and an inner tubular portion (15) of continuous circular fabric. Both portions (13 and 15) are joined by their upper ends through a portion (14) of reinforcing fabric, which is applied to an extension of the same fabric, in such a way that between the tubular portions (13, 15) there is an interstitial air chamber that acts as a thermal barrier.

Both portions (13 and 15) are joined in their inner area by a union (16) by transfer that is made by the circular fabric machine. The lumb protector extends on the lower part in a tubular portion (11), in the form of briefs or panties, with two openings (12) for the wearer's legs to pass through. These openings (12) may also extend on trouser legs of variable length in order to cover the thighs or legs of the wearer, and may have a sole junction seam in the crotch area.

In a preferential exemplary embodiment, portion (11) can be made up of a weave as shown in FIG. 4, in which the warp comprises two threads, where one thread (2) is Lycra ® or polyamide-covered elastomer and the other thread (3) is cotton or other natural fibre.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the second portion weave (13) is shown, which constitutes the external weave of the lumbar protector and comprises a Lycra ® (2) or polyamide-covered elastomer thread, a cotton thread and some Lycra ® or supplementary elastomer threads (4) that provide an additional elasticity, both in a transversal and longitudinal way. The cotton thread (3) is in the outer surface of the lumbar protector and the Lycra ® or polyamide-covered elastomer threads (2 and 4) are in the intermediate or inner layers, hidden and orientated towards the air chamber (17), thus they do not come into contact with the wearer's body.

FIG. 6 shows the fabric in the upper end of the lumbar protector or third portion (14) of the garment, in which the fabric has greater density and it comprises one Lycra ® or polyamide-covered elastomer thread (2), a cotton thread (3) and some Lycra ® or supplementary elastomer threads (4) that form a transversal reinforcement that provides additional pressure preventing its rolling up. Like the outer portion (13), in the upper portion (14) of the lumbar protector, the cotton thread (3) is presented in the outer surface and the Lycra ® or polyamide-covered elastomer threads (2, 4) remain in the intermediate or inner layers, adjacent to the air chamber (17). This prevents its contact with the wearer's body.

FIG. 7 shows the fabric of the inner zone of the lumbar protector or fourth portion (15) of the garment, in which the fabric has a cotton thread (5) with silver ions, a Lycra ® or polyamide-covered elastomer thread (2) and some Lycra ® or supplementary elastomer transversal threads (4) that provide additional pressure and elasticity, in a longitudinal and transversal way for the adjustment of the fabric to the wearer's body. The cotton thread (5) with silver ions is in the outer surface of the weave, forming the inner surface of the protector and aimed to contact the user's body, while the Lycra ® or polyamide-covered elastomer threads (2 and 4) are in the intermediate or inner layers, and oriented towards the inner air chamber (17) of the lumbar protector.

Once the nature of the invention is sufficiently described, together with a preferential exemplary embodiment, it is pointed out that, for whatever necessary purposes, that the materials, shape, size and layout of the elements may be modified, provided this does not involve any alteration of the essential characteristics of the invention, the claims of which are given below. 

1. Briefs with lumbar protection, of a type including a lumbar protection element adapted to be applied to a lumbar region of a person's back and abdomen, comprising a single textile piece, having a tubular configuration formed by an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion, extended and joined by respective upper ends thereof through a reinforcement portion of a same weave, and joined at lower ends thereof through a transfer join with an interstitial air chamber between the two portions and a the weave of said lumbar protector from the transfer join of the portions being extended in a further tubular portion in the form of briefs, with two openings in the further tubular portion through which a wearer's legs are adapted to pass; and the outer tubular portion that forms an outer surface of the lumbar protector is of a high bidirectional elasticity for three-dimensional adaptation of the lumbar protector to a user's body; and the inner tubular portion that the forms an inner surface of the lumbar protector provides thermal protection and insulation.
 2. Briefs in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner tubular portion that forms the inner surface of the lumbar protector includes a fiber having anti-microbial, thermodynamic and anti-odor properties.
 3. Briefs in accordance with claim 1, wherein the further tubular portion is made up of a fabric in which the warp comprises a polyamide-covered elastomer and another thread of cotton fiber.
 4. Briefs in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer tubular portion is made up of a fabric in which the warp comprises a polyamide-covered elastomer, a cotton thread, and supplementary elastomer threads transversely disposed and spaced in said warp.
 5. Briefs in accordance with claim 4, wherein, in the outer tubular portion, the cotton thread is disposed in an outer side of the fabric and the elastomer threads are disposed in an inner side of the fabric, adjacent to the air chamber of the lumbar protector.
 6. Briefs in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reinforcement portion is made up of a fabric in which the warp comprises polyamide-covered elastomer threads, a cotton thread and supplementary elastomer threads transversely disposed.
 7. Briefs in accordance with claim 6, wherein, in the reinforcement portion of the fabric, the cotton thread is disposed in an outer side of the fabric and the or elastomer threads are disposed in an inner side of the fabric, adjacent to the inner air chamber of the lumbar protector.
 8. Briefs in accordance with claim 6, wherein the reinforcement portion is weaved with a high density stitch in order to prevent rolling up thereof.
 9. Briefs in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner tubular portion is made up of a fabric in which the warp comprises a cotton thread with silver ions, a polyamide-covered elastomer thread, and supplementary elastomer threads transversely disposed.
 10. Briefs in accordance with claim 9, wherein, in inner tubular portion, the cotton thread with silver ions is disposed in an outer side of the fabric, which forms the inner surface of the lumbar protector meant to contact a wearer's skin, and in the elastomer threads are disposed in an inner side of the fabric, adjacent to the inner air chamber of the lumbar protector.
 11. Briefs in accordance with claim 1, wherein the further tubular portion is made up of a fabric in which the warp comprises: synthetic elastic thread and another thread of cotton fiber.
 12. Briefs in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer tubular portion is made up of a fabric in which the warp comprises a synthetic elastic thread, a cotton thread, and synthetic elastic threads transversely disposed and spaced in said warp.
 13. Briefs in accordance with claim 12, wherein, in the outer tubular portion, the cotton thread is disposed in an outer side of the fabric and the synthetic elastic threads are disposed in an inner side of the fabric, adjacent to the air chamber of the lumbar protector.
 14. Briefs in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reinforcement portion is made up of a fabric in which the warp comprises a synthetic elastic thread, a cotton thread and elastomer threads transversely disposed.
 15. Briefs in accordance with claim 14, wherein, in the reinforcement portion of the fabric, the cotton thread is disposed in an outer side of the fabric and the one of the synthetic elastic threads are disposed in an inner side of the fabric, adjacent to the inner air chamber of the lumbar protector.
 16. Briefs in accordance with claim 14, wherein the reinforcement portion is weaved with a high density stitch in order to prevent rolling up thereof.
 17. Briefs in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner tubular portion is made up of a fabric in which the warp comprises a cotton thread with silver ions, a synthetic elastic thread, and synthetic elastic thread threads transversely disposed.
 18. Briefs in accordance with claim 17, wherein, in inner tubular portion, the cotton thread with silver ions is disposed in an outer side of the fabric, which forms the inner surface of the lumbar protector meant to contact a wearer's skin, and the synthetic elastic threads are disposed in an inner side of the fabric, adjacent to the inner air chamber of the lumbar protector. 